DEFINITION OF MOHOROVICIC DISCONTINUITY

The transition from crust to mantle is generally marked by a dramatic increase in the

velocity of compressional seismic waves, from typical values

of less than 4.7 miles per second to values greater than 4.85

miles per second (7.6–7.8 km/s). This boundary was first

noted by the Yugoslavian seismologist Andrija Mohorovicic

in his study of a Balkan earthquake in 1909. Although the

Mohorovicic discontinuity is present in most places in continents

at depths of several tens of kilometers, there are some

regions beneath continents where there is not a significant

variation between the seismic velocities of the lower continental

crust and the upper mantle. In these regions the Moho

is either absent or difficult to detect. The Moho generally lies

at depths of 3–6 miles (5–10 km) beneath most regions in the

oceans. The Moho probably represents the change from

basaltic or gabbroic material above to peridotitic or dunitic

material below.

See also CONTINENTAL CRUST; LITHOSPHERE; OCEANIC

CRUST.

Moine thrust See SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS.

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